What really happened in the ending of Attack on Titan? (Spoiler Alert)

For those of you who don’t know, the ending of Attack on Titan has been very controversial, and there is a lot of confusion about what actually happened. In this post, I’ve gathered together various clues and information in an attempt to explain the ending in a comprehendible way.<br><br>**WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ATTACK ON TITAN**<br><br>First off, let me just state that I’m not saying that my interpretation is the only one that is correct. I encourage you to form your own opinions about what happened.<br><br>**Ending Explained:**<br><br>Throughout the series, it’s established that the Titans are mindless monsters that devour humans without any reason or explanation. However, in the final chapters of the manga, it’s revealed that the Titans are actually humans who have been transformed by the power of the Coordinate. The Coordinate, controlled by Zeke Yeager, is the source of all the Titans' power and the origin of the Founding Titan.<br><br>When Zeke gains control of the Coordinate, he uses it to transform all of the Eldian people, including those in Marley, into Titans. However, these Titans aren’t the typical mindless Titans that the series is known for, but rather ‘normal’ humans who have been transformed into Titans but still retain their minds and memories.<br><br>The reason why Zeke did this is because he believes that the only way to achieve true peace is to eradicate the Eldian race. By transforming all Eldians into Titans, he is essentially eradicating them as a race and removing the reason for conflict between Paradis and Marley.<br><br>However, the story takes a turn when it’s revealed that the Titans don’t actually die; they are transported to a sort of ‘purgatory’ where they continue to live out their lives in their Titan forms. This means that the people who were transformed into Titans are still alive and continue to live out their lives, but in a different form.<br><br>It’s also revealed that the Founding Titan has the power to manipulate the memories of all the Titans, allowing Zeke to control them and make them do his bidding. However, Armin is able to use the power of the Founding Titan to create a different reality; one where the Titans are able to retain their human memories and minds.<br><br>The ending of the series shows the world many years after the events of the final battle. A new generation of humans has grown up, and they have no knowledge of the existence of Titans. They live in a world where the conflict between Paradis and Marley has been resolved, and they are able to live in peace. However, it’s also revealed that the Titans are still alive, living in the ‘purgatory’ that was created by Zeke.<br><br>In the final pages of the manga, Armin is shown visiting the grave of his friends who died during the war. However, as he’s leaving, he hears a voice behind him. It’s the voice of his friend Bertholdt, but Bertholdt is dead. Or is he? The final page of the manga shows Armin turning around to see Bertholdt standing behind him, alive and well. However, it’s not actually Bertholdt, but rather his mind living inside the body of a Titan.<br><br>The ending is intentionally left ambiguous, leaving the reader to wonder what actually happened. However, based on the clues that are presented throughout the series, it appears that the Titans are actually humans who have been transformed but still retain their minds and memories. The world that Armin lives in is a world where the conflict has been resolved, but it’s also a world where the Titans are still alive, living in a different form.<br><br>In conclusion, the ending of Attack on Titan is intentionally ambiguous and open to interpretation. However, based on the clues presented throughout the series, it appears that the Titans are actually humans who have been transformed but still retain their minds and memories. The world that Armin lives in is a world where the conflict has been resolved, but it’s also a world where the Titans are still alive, living in a different form.<br><br>*Credit: u/ColossalTitan95 helped me write this post and provided some of the information.*